“Ensuring our borders are fully staffed and protected is a vital function of the federal government. Today’s bipartisan vote reflects the need to fully fund border security efforts, even during a budget impasse.

This bill provides immediate funds for programs at the Department of Homeland Security for the same rates and with the same directives as if the government was fully functional. Political roadblocks should never degrade our nation’s ability to protect our borders and enforce our laws.

I continue to call on Senator Reid and the President to begin passing the backlog of legislation the House has sent them- in bipartisan fashion- to make sure that the essential functions of the government are still being executed while a path forward is negotiated.”

Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represents Pennsylvania’s 8th district which includes all of Bucks County as well as a portion of Montgomery County. He serves as the Vice Chairman of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.